Academic staff's perceptions of implementing performance-based review system in a tertiary institution : a case study

Abstract

Introducing a new performance-based review with 100% support from staff in a well-established university is difficult for the university management. Apart from measuring whether regulations have been followed or not, acceptance of academic staff is one key area that educational organizations should not ignore when evaluating effectiveness of a performance-based policy. Using the case university as an example, this study aims at investigating academic staff’s perceptions of gradually introducing an array of performance-based review policies, its design and its success in enhancing quality. By conducting in-depth interviews with eight academic staff in the case university, suggestions to improve the performance-based review policy have also been collected.

Findings showed that academic staff basically supported its implementation and believed that it could bring positive impacts to the case university. Major areas of concerns of academic staff, which included assessment criteria, focus of university development, flexibility, reviewer composition and motivation, could be considered by peer universities when designing their own performance-based review policies and promote their policy effectiveness.